Why Messi reversed decision to retire from national team

Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers squad, less than two months after retiring from international football.

BRAZIL, Pôrto Alegre : Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi (R) and Nigeria’s goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama smile during a Group F football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 25, 2014. AFP PHOTO. File photo

Messi, 29, quit after Argentina’s Copa America final defeat by Chile in June.

But in a statement reported by media in Argentina, the Barcelona striker said he made the U-turn for the “love of the country’’ and “to help from within’’.

Argentina play qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezeula at the beginning of September.

Messi missed in the penalty kicks shootout defeat by Chile, as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.

“A lot of things went through my mind on the night of the final and I gave serious thought to quitting, but my love for my country and this shirt is too great,’’ Argentina’s all-time record goalscorer is reported as saying.

“We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN reports that Messi’s only major international honour is Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

As well as losing two Copa America finals on penalties to Chile, he was in the Argentina side beaten 1-0 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

The forward, who has been awarded the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player five times, was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.

Messi is named in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad alongside Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi.

Also, Manchester United pair Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo and Ramiro Funes Mori of Everton are on the list.

Tottenham’s Erik Lamela made it seven Premier League players in total, with Messi’s Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano also among the 27-man squad.